We will plan to study 48 subjects with diabetes and 8 patients without diabetes. The blood tests from the subjects without diabetes will be helpful in assessing the "normal" response compared to subjects with diabetes. Diabetic subjects that no longer need insulin will be randomly placed (like the flip of a coin) on a diabetes pill called metformin, a diabetes pill called sitagliptin or a placebo pill (a pill without active medication). Subjects on pills will be followed for 3½ years and undergo blood tests at specified intervals to assess their ability to make insulin. These studies will allow a better understanding of the factors that lead to high blood sugar in patients with KPDM and direct the best diabetes treatment for this patient population.

Hypothesis: Metformin therapy or sitagliptin therapy compared to placebo, will improve β-cell function, insulin sensitivity, and allow for a longer period of time prior to encountering an insulin-deficient relapse after discontinuation of insulin therapy.

Correlate specific molecular markers in skeletal muscle with patient outcome, β-cell function, and insulin sensitivity. Western blots will be performed on the muscle samples. OGTT will be done to follow beta-cell function and a frequently sampled IVGTT will be done to assess insulin sensitivity

Length of time in remission [ Time Frame: 3 years ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Those patients that are able to discontinue insulin therapy at or <12 weeks will be randomized to 1 of 3 study arms. They will be followed for the duration of the study.

All newly diagnosed subjects with KPDM that are able to discontinue insulin after 12 weeks or less will be randomized in double-blind fashion to receive either metformin 1000mg, sitagliptin 100mg or placebo once daily. Subjects that do not achieve remission will continue to receive insulin therapy and will discontinue the protocol. A total of 48 obese subjects with DKA (N=24) and obese subjects with hyperglycemia without ketoacidosis (n=24) will be equally randomized to receive metformin (MET) 1000 mg (n=16), sitagliptin (SIT) 100mg (n=16) or placebo (n=16).

Drug: metformin

The study subject will receive metformin (MET) 1000 mg tablet once a day as long as the patient maintains near-normoglycemic remission (BG < 130mg/dL and A1c <7%) during the 3-year follow-up period.

Other Name: Glucophage

Active Comparator: Sitagliptin

All newly diagnosed subjects with KPDM that are able to discontinue insulin after 12 weeks or less will be randomized in double-blind fashion to receive either metformin 1000 mg, sitagliptin 100mg or placebo once daily. Subjects that do not achieve remission will continue to receive insulin therapy and will discontinue the protocol. A total of 48 obese subjects with DKA (N=24) and obese subjects with hyperglycemia without ketoacidosis (n=24) will be equally randomized to receive metformin (MET) 1000 mg (n=16), sitagliptin (SIT) 100mg (n=16) or placebo (n=16).

Drug: Sitagliptin

The study subject will receive a sitagliptin 100mg once a day as long as the patient maintains near-normoglycemic remission (BG < 130mg/dL and A1c <7%) during the 3-year follow-up period.

Other Name: Januvia

Placebo Comparator: Placebo

All newly diagnosed subjects with KPDM that are able to discontinue insulin after 12 weeks or less will be randomized in double-blind fashion to receive either metformin 1000 mg, sitagliptin 100mg or placebo once daily. Subjects that do not achieve remission will continue to receive insulin therapy and will discontinue the protocol. A total of 48 obese subjects with DKA (N=24) and obese subjects with hyperglycemia without ketoacidosis (n=24) will be equally randomized to receive metformin (MET) 1000 mg(n=16), sitagliptin (SIT) 100mg (n=16) or placebo (n=16).

Drug: placebo

The study subject will receive a placebo tablet once a day as long as the patient maintains near-normoglycemic remission (BG < 130mg/dL and A1c <7%) during the 3-year follow-up period.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

19 Years to 65 Years

Genders Eligible for Study:

Both

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

Yes

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

All newly diagnosed overweight/obese (BMI >/=28 kg/m2) African-American patients with new-onset DKA and/or severe hyperglycemia and without apparent precipitating cause will be considered for inclusion into the study. The diagnosis of DKA will be established by standard criteria (blood glucose > 250 mg/dL, pH < 7.3, HCO3 < 18 mmol/L, increased anion gap).

The hyperglycemic group will include patients with an admission plasma glucose > 400 mg/dL but without the presence of metabolic acidosis or ketosis.

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01099618